Grandmother’s warning after children injured on hot play equipment

A LOCAL grandparent is urging parents to be mindful when their children use play equipment in local parks, after two of her grandchildren burnt their hands on black safety flooring that became hot in the sun.

The precautionary warning comes after local woman, Stevie Cooke, had to take two of her grandchildren to hospital after playing in the park in King George V Playing Field. The children were treated for blistering on their hands.

“Today we took five of my grandchildren to the park with a picnic,” explained Stevie. “All five were playing chase nicely for ages, then my 6-year old grandson said he had burnt his hands. We checked them, poured some bottled water on them and they seemed fine, but we were puzzled how he had burnt them.

“About a hour later after falling over he started screaming and running towards us holding both hands out. When we checked his hands they had blistered and the fall had torn the skin from the palms, enough to need hospital treatment,

“Not five minutes after he was on his way to Chippenham Hospital, then one of my other grandsons, aged 7, also ran over screaming, with burnt hands; falling on the grass whilst playing had torn the skin from his palms. After talking to other children, it was sitting on the black safety matting around the equipment and putting their hands down when they were getting up that had caused the burns.

“They have now got their hands dressed and need to go back to Chippenham Hospital for further treatment.

“I am not blaming anyone for this happening, I just want to warn others to be aware of what has happened. This wasn’t in the heat of the day, it was about 5.30pm, and all children had high factor sun block, plenty of bottles of water for drinks and were seated in the shade for a picnic tea but they were running around playing, as children do. I am fully aware of the dangers of the sun, but was not expecting the children to suffer this.”

In response, Melksham Town Council issued a statement on their Facebook page. “Please please take extra care when letting your little ones play out this summer,” said deputy town clerk Clare Harris. “Whilst we are all loving this hot summer we are having, it does mean that play equipment in our play areas across the town; swings, slides in particular, and the safety surfaces around them could become very hot.

“Please check and make sure it is safe for your child to play and have fun in the sun.”